On Monday, millions of pilgrims begin arriving in Mina, a small valley five kilometers east of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, where they will spend several nights in what becomes, briefly, the largest temporary city on earth. The tents they sleep in bear little resemblance to what earlier generations encountered: ...
Day: May 25, 2026
Iranians attend Hajj despite warIranians attend Hajj despite war
The Iran war is reshaping who performs Hajj this year, and how they get there: Iran’s allocation was cut to 30,000 pilgrims, nearly two-thirds fewer than usual. Their travel plans had shifted to using overland convoys through Iraq, before the ceasefire restored air access and enabled Iranian pilgrims to fly ...
The quiet influence of Qatari minister Al ThawadiThe quiet influence of Qatari minister Al Thawadi
When US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that a deal with Iran had been “largely negotiated,” he cited a phone call with a crowded list of Middle East rulers. One ostensibly lesser name stood out: Qatar’s Ali Al Thawadi is a minister without his own department, but he too ...
Senegal’s political avalancheSenegal’s political avalanche
Alexis’s view Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye set off a political avalanche by firing his popular prime minister, Ousmane Sonko. Faye probably calculated that the move, announced late on Friday, could bury his own political career but was worth the risk to break an impasse that has prevented the country ...
Benin’s new president focuses on economic prosperityBenin’s new president focuses on economic prosperity
Benin’s new president promised to ensure citizens benefitted from the growing strength of the economy. Romauld Wadagni, 49, was sworn in on Sunday, having previously served as finance minister under his predecessor. That administration produced economic growth of 7.5% last year, the highest level since 1990. The economy under Wadagni ...
An Incomplete List of Successful Anti-Data Center LegislationAn Incomplete List of Successful Anti-Data Center Legislation
Opposition to the massive data centers that power AI is bipartisan and growing across the country. From Maine to California, more states and local communities are passing moratoriums and bans on construction of the noisy, power and water hungry buildings. People are getting arrested for speaking too long at town ...
Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell in custody after admitting £400,000 embezzlementFormer SNP chief executive Peter Murrell in custody after admitting £400,000 embezzlement
The estranged husband of former Scotland first minister Nicola Sturgeon is remanded in custody after pleading guilty. ...
Delivery robots are spreading across LA. Residents ‘both pity and hate them’Delivery robots are spreading across LA. Residents ‘both pity and hate them’
A region known for its lack of walkability now has more obstacles for pedestrians to contend with Robots have taken over Los Angeles. It’s not just the AI-generated videos that have caused angst in Hollywood. Our streets are full of driverless Waymo vehicles, covered in more sensors and gadgets than ...
Victor Wembanyama’s half-court buzzer beater showcased a master in complete controlVictor Wembanyama’s half-court buzzer beater showcased a master in complete control
The Spurs are up against the best team in the NBA in the Western Conference finals. But their star player has enough sorcery to give them confidence Victor Wembanyama called for the ball. His San Antonio Spurs were up by nine at the tail end of the second quarter, but ...
Kenya’s mobile money tax plans threaten M-Pesa growthKenya’s mobile money tax plans threaten M-Pesa growth
The News Kenya’s proposed new taxes risk hampering the growth of fintechs and mobile money services, with Safaricom’s M-Pesa likely to be the worst hit, experts told Semafor. Kenya President William Ruto’s administration is seeking to impose a new 16% value-added tax on services by payment service providers including M-Pesa ...